Hitching device.



No. 674,865. Patented May 28, I90l. G. C. HARRINGTON.

HITCHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1900..

(No Model.)

Tu: uonms PETERS cu. wumurna. wAsHmoTon. lzvv a wit STATES GERALD C. HARRINGTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IHITCHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent N 0. 674,865, dated May 28, 1901.

Application filed October 31, 1900. Serial No. 35,04A. (No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD O. HARRING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hitching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hitching devices; and its primary object is to provide a device which is adapted to be secured to a hitching-strap and which will automatically grip upon a post or other similar object and be locked in engagement therewith.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure l is a section through the casing, showing the arms of the device in unlocked or extended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pointed ends of the arms in locked position. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a key employed for unlocking the wedge.

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

1 is a casing of any desired shape, having arms 2 pivoted within opposite sides thereof. These arms are preferably bow-shaped and the outer ends thereof are turned inward and pointed, as shown at 3, forming hooks which are adapted to engage with a post or similar device. The pivots 4. of the arms are arranged at points between the ends thereof, and the inner ends 5 normally bear upon opposite sides of a wedge 6, which is slidably mounted within the casing at the center thereof. A stem 7 extends from the end of the wedge and through the center of the casing and is provided at its end, preferably, with an eye 8 or any other suitable device,whereby a hitchingstrap may be secured thereto. Ratchet-teeth 9 are formed upon opposite sides of the stem and are adaptedto be engaged by heads 10 of pawls 11, pivoted at their ends within the casing. The heads of these pawls are held normally in engagement with the teeth 9 by means of coil-springs 12 or other similar devices.

The hitching device is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to lock the same in engagement with a post, the hooks 3 are placed upon opposite sides thereof and the eye 8 drawn outward. This will draw the wedge 6 toward the pawls 11 and the same will cause the hooked ends of the arms 2 to swing inward into engagement with the post. While the stem is being drawn outward from the casing the heads of the pawls will slip over the teeth 9, but backward movement of said stem will be prevented thereby. It will be seen that the greater the pull upon the wedge 6 the tighter the hooks 3 will engage the post contacted thereby.

When it is desired to release the arms from engagement with the post, it is merely necessary to insert a key 13, substantially such as shown in Fig. 3, into the casing, so that the same will rest at a point between the heads 10 of the pawls, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that when the key is turned the heads will be forced out of engagement with the teeth of the stem and the wedge will be free to drop back into normal position.

In the foregoing description I have embodied the preferred form of my invention;

but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope. of my inven tion; nor do I limit myself to employing this device for hitching only, as the same may be used as an ordinary grapple.-

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a casing, of arms pivoted at points between their ends within opposite sides of said casing, a wedge slidably mounted between the inner ends of the arms, a stem thereto projecting through the casing, a pawl adapted to engage the stem and lock the same, and means for holding the pawl normally in engagement with the stem.

2. The combination with a casing; of arms pivoted at points between their ends within opposite sides of the casing, a wedge slidably mounted between the inner ends of the arms,

through the casing, teeth upon the stem, pawls pivoted within the casing and engaging the teeth at opposite sides of the stem, and springs adapted to hold the pawls normally in engagement with said teeth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GERALD O. HARRINGTON. Witnesses:

ELISHA B. SOUTHARD, LoUIs MATTHES. 

